<p>I read the book Pledged by Alexandra Robbins a few months ago, and I must say I was surprised at what goes on in sororities and fraternities; she emphasized that the book didn't just show extreme cases. Have any of you read the book, lived in Greek housing, or had other experiences related to it? How does the Greek scene affect a college as a whole?</p>
<p>it's not for everyone</p>
<p>I read the book a few summers ago. I think a lot of it depends on the school and how they handle greek life. The universities in her book were large, mostly state schools. While there is definitely hazing at smaller schools, I think it's much more under control. I'm not Greek, so I can't tell you details, but most of the pledging hazing is dumb stuff like getting covered in ketchup. Once you're in, there doesn't really appear to be anything like in the book. </p>
<p>Though, I'm sure, it does happen. And probably quite a bit too much.</p>
<p>I was in a sorority for four years in college. I lived in a sorority house for three of those years and served as president my senior year. I have also read the book Pledged. I would have to say that while I enjoyed reading it, it in no way reflected my experience in a sorority. We were 100% not hazed and had our international organization breathing down our neck to monitor that fact. There were tons of rumors that floated around campus about this sorority doing this or that one doing something else, but never confirmed. I can only speak for the one I was a member of and there was no hazing at all. </p>
<p>It was actually a really positive experience for me. We did sisterhood events where we would go roller skating or bowling together. We also did at least one community service event a semester. We had a few date parties a semester, but to be honest that was not the focus of what we did most of the time. I got a lot out of my time in a sorority. Because we had a house with a full time cook, maid, housemom, etc. that slept over 40 girls, serving as president was like running a small business. I had twenty officers who served under me and had to find ways to motivate them and our members to complete the various things we had to do. It was a great leadership opportunity. It was also a good support system for me throughout my years in college. I would do it again in a heartbeat. All Greek systems are different but I found that book to represent an atypical Greek experience....at least atypical from what most of my friends and I experienced.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, Teach2005, where did you go to college?</p>
<p>Hazing is good. It makes people prove themselves, show their loyalty, and pay their dues. In turn it's only right that you get to haze the next generation.</p>
<p>All I can tell you is that I would have never ever gone Greek if I knew that my sorority practiced hazing or force people to do things to get pledged.</p>
<p>And I'm in sorority and I love it. Although there were times that I felt like that I was really pledged but that was just the talk among my class, which I often ignored because I wanted to be my own person and not be influenced by others' thoughts. My upperclasswomen have been so incredibly support that I just wonder what do I need everyone else for? Also, sororities are not allowed to host any events relating to alochol unless they're co-sponooring with a fraternity.</p>
<p>Also I go to a school where Greek life has seriously been cracked down in the past two years so there is absolutely no hazing and very little, if any, danger of being involved and around Greek life for anyone. Even the recruitment was barely a torture because the PanHell Association was breathing down all the sororities' necks to make sure that the potential members were being treated fairly and equally. I didn't have to walk on my hands or just in the lake... or any other crazy stuff to get in.</p>
<p>Although I haven't read the book but it sounds like the author needs to get more perspectives from more schools.</p>
<p>LavenderCloud, I graduated from Mississippi State University.</p>
<p>I'm scared to join a frat... they made the pledge class students doo so many embarassing things.. like a guy who must dress as Peach from Mario games for a whole week.</p>
<p>So... I read the book and I've sinced pledged a sorority(at a big state U). I wouldn't say that I was hazed, but I would say that together as a pledge class we were "pressured" to do some quite embarassing things. No girl wanted to be like "No, I WON'T do it..." and then be the outcasted pledge. Was I a bit scared at first? yeah. But then it was a ton of fun and I've laughed about it ever since. Alot of stuff in that book is true but only at certain universities.</p>
<p>examples...</p>
<p>here, i heard they make some of the guys run naked across the college green and play throwing games naked w/ a lot of onlookers, make them drink a lot of milk and run uphill and other crazy stuff....</p>
<p>"hazing" or uh... "brotherhood bonding" varies dramatically. and you always have the option of depledging if you need to.</p>
<p>My girlfriend has a friend that's in a sorority, and from what she's said, her sorority isn't as extreme as the book's examples, but from a cultural standpoint is very similar. </p>
<p>From the online reviews I've read of the book and from the comments here, I wouldn't take the "it's nothing like my sorority" opinions as granted. I would think that the people who post on CC and the people that create online reviews would have a fairly skewed experience compared to the extremely outgoing sorority members. i.e. My gf's friend (and I'm sure many others) is very outgoing and constantly partying, so she doesn't come on the internet to talk to people. Basically, the opinions you find online aren't a representative sample.</p>
<p>aside from hazing, and i dont think the greeks at my school haze much at all, i am against greeks organizations. Nearly 70% of my campus is greek. my first reason is that if you become greek, the brother/sisters are essentially forced into becoming your friend. this isnt to say that they dont truly like you as a friend, but the relationship was forced together. my other main reason is that there is an exclusitivity problem. once the greeks here pledge, and become active, they tend to forget about people outside their frat/sor, and it prevents them from getting to know/becoming friends with some very intelligent, funny, fun to be around people.</p>
<p>those are my main reasons against greek life, and it may only be true at my school, but i'm sure for many people, going greek is a very positive experience.</p>
<p>Hazing puts sack of **** pledges in their place.</p>
<p>actionrunner, usually most kids choose to pledge a fraternity in which they like/would want to be friends with most of the members anyway. And if the existing members don't like them, they won't get a bid to become a pledge anyway.</p>
<p>Also, with regard to not making friends outside the frat, odds are this person would behave the same way even if they weren't in a frat. They would have a group of friends and not bother to reach out and meet new people.</p>
<p>Like people have been saying, Greek life isn't for everyone. I actually decided to not attend one college because the social life was too Greek, and was very critical of it all through first semester freshman year. However, I rushed sophomore year, am now in a sorority, and I love it so much. Its not about "paying" people to be your friends... the experiences you go through as a pledge class are incredible bonding opportunities that are difficult to replicate. I don't love everyone in my pledge class, but I have my good friends and I respect everyone for going through pledging together.</p>